Tag Archives: yoruba

Ọ̀tún wẹ Òsì, Òsì wẹ Ọ̀tún, Lọwọ́ fi Nmọ: Right Washing The Left & The Left Washing The Right Makes For Clean Hands

There is a Yoruba saying that, the right hand washes the left, and the left washes the right for clean hands. Image is courtesy of Microsoft Free Images.

Àṣà àtọwọ́dọ́wọ́, ọwọ́ ni a fi njẹ ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ oúnjẹ Yorùbá, nítorí kò si ṣíbí tó dára tó ọwọ́ lati fi jẹ oúnjẹ òkèlè bi iyán, èyí jẹ kó ṣe pàtàkì lati fọ ọwọ́ mejeji lẹ́hìn oúnjẹ. Fífọ ọwọ́ kan kòlè mọ́ bi ka fọ ọwọ́ mejeji.

Ọ̀rọ̀, “ọ̀tún wẹ òsì, òsì wẹ ọ̀tún, lọwọ́ fi nmọ” wúlò lati gba àwọn ènìà níyànjú wípé àgbájọwọ́ lãrin ẹbí, ọ̀rẹ́ àti ará ìlú lérè.

Yorùbá ni “Àgbájọ ọwọ́ la fi nsọya, ajẹjẹ ọwọ́ kan ko gbe ẹrú dórí”, ọmọ Yorùbá nílélóko, ẹ jẹ́kí a parapọ̀ tún ílú ṣe.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION Continue reading →

Originally posted 2013-04-10 02:30:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

IMULO ÒWE YORUBA: APPLYING YORUBA PROVERBS

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“A NGBA ÒRÒMỌDÌYẸ LỌWỌ IKÚ O NI WỌN O JẸ KI OHUN LỌ ATAN LỌJẸ”

A le lo òwe yi lati kilọ fun ẹni to fẹ lọ si Òkèokun (Ìlu Òyìnbó) lọna kọna lai ni ase tabi iwe ìrìnà. Bi ẹbi, ọrẹ tabi ojulumọ to mọ ewu to wa ninu igbesẹ bẹ ba ngba irú ẹni bẹ niyanju, a ma binu wipe wọn o fẹ ki ohun ṣoriire. Bi ounjẹ ti pọ to l’atan fun oromọdiyẹ bẹni ewu pọ to. Bi ọna ati ṣoriire ti pọ to ni Òkèokun bẹni ewu ati ibanujẹ pọ to fun ẹniti koni aṣẹ/iwe ìrìnà. Ọpọlọpọ nku sọna, ọpọ si nde ọhun lai ri iṣẹ, lai ri ibi gbe tabi lai ribi pamọ si fun Òfin. Lati pada si ile a di isoro nitori ọpọ ninu wọn ti ta ile ati gbogbo ohun ìní lati lọ oke okun. Bi iru ẹni bẹ ṣe npe si l’Òkèokun bẹni ìtìjú ati pada sile se npọ si.

Òwe yi kọwa wipe ka ma kọ eti ikun si ikilọ, ka gbe ọrọ iyanju yẹwo ki a ba le se nkan lọna totọ.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

“WE ARE TRYING TO SAVE THE CHICK FROM DEATH, ITS COMPLAINING OF NOT BEING ALLOWED TO GO TO THE DUMPSITE” — “A NGBA ÒRÒMỌDÌYẸ LỌWỌ IKÚ O NI WỌN O JẸ KI OHUN LỌ ATAN LỌJẸ”

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Originally posted 2013-02-19 22:08:02. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Bί a bá ránni ni iṣẹ ẹrú: One sent on a slavish errand (on man’s inhumanity to man)

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The Mido Macia Story courtesy of NEWSY reporting from multiple sources and giving a broader view

Yorὺbá nί “Bί a bá ránni nί iṣẹ ẹrú, a fi tọmọ jẹ”. Ọlọpa tί o yẹ ki o dãbo bo ará àti ẹrú nί ìlú, nhuwa ìkà sί àwọn tί o yẹ ki wọn ṣọ. Ọlọpa South Africa so ọdọmọkunrin ọmọ ọdún mẹta dinlọgbọn – Mido Gracia, mọ ọk`ọ ọlọpa, wọ larin ìgboro, lu, lẹhin gbogbo eleyi, ju si àtìm`ọle tίtί o fi kú. Ọlọpa wọnyi hὺ ìwà ìkà yί nίgbangba lai bìkίtà pe aye ti lujára. Eleyi fi “Ìwà ìkà ọmọ enia sί ọmọ enia han”. Ọlọpa South Africa ṣi àṣẹ ti wọn nί lὸ, wọn rán wọn niṣe ẹrú, wọn o fi tọmọ jẹ. Sὺnre o Mido Macia.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Yoruba proverb says that, “One sent on a slavish errand, should deliver the message with the discretion of an heir”. Continue reading →

Originally posted 2013-03-02 00:25:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Àjùmòbí kò kan tãnu… Same parentage does not compel compassion…

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Same parentage does not compel compassion.

Òwe Yorùbá ní “Àjùmòbí kò kan tãnu, ẹni Olúwa bá rán síni ló nṣeni lõre”. Òwe yi wúlò lati gba àwọn ènìà tí o gbójúlé ẹbí níyànjú. Ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ rò wípé ẹ̀tọ́ ni ki ẹni tí ó bá lówó nínú ẹbí tàbí tí ó ngbe ni Òkè-Òkun bá wọn gbé ẹrù lai ro wípé ẹbí tí o lówó tàbí gbé l’Ókè-Òkun ní ẹrù tiwọn lati gbé.

Yorùbá ní “Òṣìṣẹ́ wa lõrun, abáni náwó wà níbòji”, ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ agbójúlẹ́bí wọnyi, ma mba ẹni tí o nṣiṣẹ ka owó lai rò wípé ẹni tí ó nṣiṣẹ yi, nlãgun lati rí owó. Iṣẹ́ lẹ́ni tí ó wa l’Ókè-Òkun/Ìlú-Òyìnbó nṣe nínú òtútù. Fún àpẹrẹ: níbití olówó tàbí àwọn tí ó ngbe Òkè-òkun tí nṣe àwọn nkan níwọnba bí – ọmọ bíbí, aṣo rírà, ẹ̀rọ ìbánisọ̀rọ̀, àti bẹ̃bẹ lọ, ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ agbójúlẹ́bí á bímọ rẹpẹtẹ, kó owó lé aṣọ, bèrè ẹ̀rọ ìbánisọ̀rọ̀ olówó nla tí ẹni tí ó wà l’Ókè-Òkun ó lè kó owó lé lórí àti gbogbo àṣejù míràn.

Ẹbí olówó tàbí tí ó ngbe Òkè-òkun kò lè dípò Ìjọba. Ọ̀dọ̀ Ìjọba tí ó ngba owó orí lóyẹ kí á ti bèrè ẹ̀tọ́, ki ṣe lọ́wọ́ ẹbí. Ẹbí tóní owó tàbí gbé Òkè-òkun lè fi ojú ãnu ṣe ìrànlọ́wọ́, ṣùgbọ́n ki ṣe iṣẹ́ ẹni bẹ̃ lati gbé ẹrù ẹlẹ́rù. Ẹjẹ́ ká rántí òwe yi wípé “Àjùmọ̀bí kò kan tãnu, ẹni Olúwa bá rán síni ló nṣeni lõre”, nítorí aladugbo, àjòjì, ọ̀rẹ́, àti bẹ̃bẹ lọ, lè ṣeni lãnu bí Olúwa bá rán wọn.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

A Yoruba saying goes that “same parentage does not compel compassion, only those sent by God show compassion”. This proverb can be used to advice those dependent on family member. Many dependents think it is a right for rich or family members living abroad to carry their responsibilities. Continue reading →

Originally posted 2014-11-18 18:00:26. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

LADÉJOMORE – How Babies Lost Their Ability to Speak

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A SAMPLE OF AN EKITI VARIANT OF THE FOLK TALE “LADÉJOMORE”

Ọmọ titun – a baby Courtesy: @theyorubablog

Ladéjomore Ladéjomore1
Èsun
Oyà* Ajà gbusi
Èsun
Oyà ‘lé fon ‘ná lo 5
Èsun
Iy’uná k ó ti l’éin
Èsun
I y’eran an k’ó ti I’újà
Èsun 15
Ogbé godo s’erun so
O m’ásikù bo ‘so lo
O to kìsì s’áède
Me I gbo yùngba yùngba yún yún ún
Èsun

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Originally posted 2015-07-12 01:57:12. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Iwé-àkọ-ránṣẹ́ ni èdè Yorùbá – Letter writing in Yoruba Language

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Ni àtijọ́, àwọn ọmọ ilé-iwé ló ńran àgbàlagbà ti kò lọ ilé-iwé lọ́wọ́ lati kọ iwé, pataki ni èdè abínibí. Ẹ ṣe àyẹ̀wò àwọn iwé-àkọ-ránṣẹ́ wọnyi ni ojú iwé yi:

Ìwé ti Ìyá kọ sí ọmọ

Èsì iwé ti ọmọ kọ si iyá

Iwé ti ọkọ kọ si iyàwó

Èsi iwé ti aya kọ si ọkọ

: Ìwé ti Ìyá kọ sí ọmọ – Yoruba mother to child letter. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

: Èsì iwé ti ọmọ kọ si iyá – Response from child to mother. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

: Iwé ti ọkọ kọ si iyàwó – Husband’s Yoruba letter to wife. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

: Èsi iwé ti aya kọ si ọkọ Wife’s response to husband ‘s letter in Yoruba. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

ENGLISH TRANSLATION Continue reading →

Originally posted 2014-03-11 01:14:25. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Bi ará ilé ẹni ba njẹ kòkòrò búburú ti a ò sọ fun, hẹ̀rẹ̀-huru rẹ kò ní jẹ ki a sùn – If you fail to warn your neighbor of danger, his cries at night might prevent you from sleeping

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Ó ti lé ni ọgbọ̀n ọdún ti ìyà iná monomono ti ńfi ìyà jẹ ará ilú orílẹ̀ èdè Nigeria. Nitori dáku-́dájí iná mọ̀nàmọ́na ti Ìjọba àpapọ̀ pèsè, ẹ̀rọ iná mọ̀nàmọ́na kékèké ti a lè fi wé kòkòrò búburú gbòde.

Power generators: ẹ̀rọ iná mọ̀nàmọ́na. The image is from http://lowhangingfruits.blogspot.com

Òwe Yorùbá ti ó ni “Bi ará ilé ẹni ba njẹ kòkòrò búburú ti a ò sọ fun, hẹ̀rẹ̀huru rẹ kò ni jẹ ki a sùn” bá iṣẹlẹ ọ̀rọ̀ àti pèsè ina monamona yi mu. Pẹlu gbogbo owó ti ó ti wọlẹ̀ lóri àti pèsè ina mona-mona, ará ilé ẹni ti o ńjẹ kòkòrò búburú ti jẹ́run. Ai sọ̀rọ̀ ará ìlú lati igbà ti aiṣe dẽde iná ti bẹrẹ lo fa hẹ̀rẹ̀huru ariwo ti ọ̀pọ̀ ẹ̀rọ-iná kékèké ma ńfà. Ariwo yi pọ to bẹ gẹ, ti àtisùn di ogun. Àti ọ̀sán àti òru ni ariwo ẹ̀rọ-iná kékèké yi ma ńdá sílẹ̀, ṣùgbọ́n èyí tó burú jù ni herehuru ti òru.

Ki ṣe omi, epo-rọ̀bi, èédú nikan ni a fi lè ṣe ètò ina mona-mona. A lè fi õrun, atẹ́gùn àti pàntí ti ó pọ̀ ni orílẹ̀ èdè wa ni ẹ̀kúnrẹ́rẹ́ pèsè iná mona-. Ìlú ti kò ni õrun tó ilẹ̀ aláwọ̀-dúdú ńfi õrun pèsè iná mona-mona.

Ohun ìtìjú ni pé fún bi ọgbọ̀n ọdún ó lé díẹ̀, àwọn Òṣèlú àti ará ìlu, kò ri ará ilé ti ó ńjẹ kòkòrò búburú báwí.

English translation: Continue reading →

Originally posted 2013-10-22 03:51:57. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“Orúkọ idile Yorùbá ti ó ńparẹ́” – “Yoruba family names that are disappearing”

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Orúkọ ẹni ni ìfihàn ẹni, orúkọ Yorùbá fi àṣà, iṣẹ́ àti Òriṣà idile hàn tàbi àtẹsẹ̀bi ọmọ. Yorùbá gbàgbọ́ ninú Ọlọrun/Eledumare ki ẹ̀sin igbàgbọ́ àti imọ̀le tó dé. Ifá jẹ́ ẹ̀sin Yorùbá, nitori Ifá ni wọn fi ńṣe iwadi lọ́dọ̀ Ọlọrun ki Yorùbá tó dá wọ́ lé ohunkohun. Yorùbá gbàgbọ́ ninú àwọn iránṣẹ́ Ọlọrun ti a mọ̀ si “Òriṣà”. Àwọn Òriṣà Yorùbá pọ̀ ṣùgbọ́n pàtàki lára àwọn Òriṣà ni: Ògún, Ṣàngó, Ọya, Yemọja, Oṣó, Ọ̀ṣun, Olokun, Ṣọ̀pọ̀ná, Èṣù àti bẹ̃bẹ̃ lọ. Àwọn orúkọ ti ó fi ẹ̀sin àwọn Òriṣà wọnyi hàn ti ńparẹ́ nitori àwọn ẹlẹsin igbàlódé ti fi “Oluwa/Ọlọrun” dipò orúkọ ti ó bẹ̀rẹ̀ pẹ̀lú Ifá, Ògún, Èṣù àti bẹ̃bẹ̃ lọ. Ẹ ṣe àyẹ̀wò àwọn orúkọ wọnyi:

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

One’s name is one’s identity, Yoruba names reflect the culture, trade, gods being worshipped in the family as well as the situation in which a child was born. Yoruba had faith in the Almighty God of Heaven ever before the advent of Christianity and Islam. Ifa was then the religion of the Yoruba people, because “Ifa” was the medium of consulting God before embarking on any venture. Yoruba believed in the messengers of God known as mini gods called “Orisa”. There many mini gods but prominent among them are: Ogun – god or Iron; Sango – god of thunder and lightning; Oya – river Niger goddess, wife of Sango; Yemoja – goddess of all rivers; Oso – wizard deity, Osun – river goddess; Olokun – Ocean goddess; Sopona – deity associated with chicken pox; Esu – god of protector as well as trickster deity that generates confusion; etc. The names that were associated with all these Yoruba gods are disappearing because they are being replaced with “Olu, Oluwa, Olorun”, to reflect the modern beliefs. Check below names that associated with the traditional and modern faith:

IFÁ – Yoruba belief of Divination

Orúkọ idile Yorùbá	Orúkọ igbàlódé ti ó dipò orúkọ ibilẹ̀	English/Literal meaning – IFA –Yoruba Religion
Fábùnmi	Olúbùnmi	Ifa/God gave me
Fádádunsi	Dáhùnsi	Ifa responded to this
Fadaisi/Fadairo	Oludaisi	Ifa/God spared this one
Fadójú/Fadójútimi		Ifa did not disgrace me
Fádùlú		Ifa became town
Fáfúnwá	Olúfúnwá	Ifa/God gave me to search
Fágbàmigbé		Ifa did not forget me
Fágbàmilà/Fagbamiye		Ifa saved me
Fágbèmi	Olúgbèmi	Ifa/God supported me
Fagbemileke	Oluwagbemileke	Ifa/God made me prevail
Fágbénró	Olúgbénró	Ifa/God sustained me
Fágúnwà		Ifa straightened character
Fájánà/Fatona		Ifa led the way
Fájọbi		Ifa joined at delivery
Fájuyi		Ifa is greater than honour
Fakẹyẹ		Ifa gathered honour
Fálànà	Olúlànà	Ifa/God opened the way
Fálayé		Ifa is the way of the world
Fáléti		Ifa has hearing
Fálọlá		Ifa is wealth
Fálolú	Ọláolú	Ifa is god
Fámùkòmi/Fáfúnmi	Olúwafúnmi	Ifa/God gave to me
Fámúrewá		Ifa brought goodness
Farinre	Ọlarinre	Ifa/Wealth came in goodness
Fáṣeun	Olúwaṣeun	Thanks to Ifa
Faséùn/Fápohùndà		Ifa kept his words
Fáṣọlá	Olúṣọlá	Ifa/God created wealth
Fatimilẹhin	Oluwatimilẹhin	Ifa/God supported me
Fátúnàṣe		Ifa repaired morals
Faturoti		Ifa is worth waiting on
Fáyẹmi	Olúyẹmi	Ifa/God suits me
Fayoṣe		Ifa will perform it
Ọláifá	Ọláolú	Ifa’s wealth

Originally posted 2014-07-11 20:39:12. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Ẹ bá wa gbé ọ̀rọ̀ yi yẹ̀wò. Àwọn Ilé Ìdájọ́ Àgbà ni ìlú Amerika ṣe ìdájọ wípé “ìgbéyàwó ko di dandan kó jẹ́ laarin ọkùnrin àti obinrin” : US Supreme Court Decides Marriage Does not Have to be Man & Woman

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A gay couple rejoicing over the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act — June 26, 2013. Image is from AP/BBC

Ẹ bá wa gbé ọ̀rọ̀ yi yẹ̀wò. Àwọn Ilé Ìdájọ́ Àgbà ni ìlú Amerika ṣe ìdájọ wípé “ìgbéyàwó ko di dandan kó jẹ́ laarin ọkùnrin àti obinrin”. Bi wọn ti s’alaiye oro na si, wọn ni kò dára ki àwọn Aṣòfin ti a mọ si “Congress”, sọ wípé “ìgbéyàwó lati jẹ́ laarin ọkùnrin àti obìnrin ni kan ṣoṣo”. Àkíyèsí ti wọn ṣe ni wípé, ìdí ti àwọn Aṣòfin ṣe sọ bẹ̃, ni pé wọn o fẹ́ràn àwọn ti o nṣe igbeyawo ọkùnrin si ọkùnrin tabi obìnrin si obìnrin.

Ẹ jẹ́ ki a yẹ ọ̀rọ̀ yi wo bó yá a fẹ́ràn ẹ, tàbi a o fẹ́ràn ẹ, ṣe àṣà àdáyébá Yorùbá kankan wa, bi òwe tàbí nkan bẹ̃, ti ó sọ ìdí ti a ṣe n fun àwọn ti ó bá ṣe ìgbéyàwó ni ọpọlọpọ ẹ̀tọ́ ti a n fun wọn?

Ẹ jọ̀wọ́, ẹyin ará Yoruba blog, ẹ bá wa da si. Ẹ sọ ìdí ti aṣe n fun àwọn ti ó bá ṣe ìgbéyàwó ni oriṣiriṣi ẹ̀tọ́, ẹ̀bùn lọ́jọ́, ìgbéyàwó àti àyẹ́sí fún àwọn tó bá wà ni ilé ọkọ.

Ìdájọ́ yi ṣe pàtàkì, bi o ti ẹ jẹ wípé Amerika lo yi òfin padà pe ìgbéyàwó ki ṣe laarin ọkùnrin àti obìnrin mọ́ lọ́jọ́ òní, ni ọjọ́ kan, Yorùbá, orílẹ̀ èdè Nigeria àti gbogbo ilẹ̀ aláwọ̀ dúdú yio ṣe ipinu ọ̀rọ̀ yi.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION Continue reading →

Originally posted 2013-06-28 15:27:02. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Ìbà Àkọ́dá – Reverence to the First Being

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Obinrin ti ó́ nṣe Ì̀bà Aṣẹ̀dá – A woman paying reverence to the Creator. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

Ìbà Àkọ́dá, ìbà Aṣẹ̀dá
Ìbà ni n ó f’òní jú, mo r’íbà, k’íbà ṣẹ
Nínú ríríjẹ, nínú àìríjẹ
Mo wá gbégbá ọpẹ́, mo r’íbà k’íbà ṣẹ
Alápáńlá tó so’lé ayé ró
Ṣe àtúntò ayé mi
Ní gbogbo ọ̀nà tí mo ti k’etí ikún sí Ọ
Baba d’áríjì, mo bẹ̀bẹ̀
Odò Orisun Rẹ ni mí, máṣe jẹ́ n gbẹ

Ìbà! ìbà!!

Ọmọ ìkà ń d’àgbà, ọmọ ìkà ń gbèrú
Ọmọ ẹni ire a má a tọrọ jẹ
Ọmọ onínúure a má a pọ́njú
Bó ti wù Ọ ́lo ń ṣ’ọlá Rẹ
Ìṣe Rẹ, Ìwọ ló yé o; Ògo Rẹ, é dibàjẹ́
Àpáta ayérayé, mo sá di Ọ ́o
Yọ́yọ́ l’ẹnu ayé
Aráyé ń sọ Ọ ́sí láburú, aráyé ń sọ Ọ ́sí rere
Ọlọ́jọ́ ń ka’jọ́
Bó pẹ́, bó yá, ohun ayé á b’áyé lọ

Ìbà! ìbà!!

Ẹni iná ọ̀rẹ́ bá jó rí, bó bá ní’hun nínú kò ní lè rò
ọ̀rẹ́ gidi ń bẹ bíi ká f’ẹ́ni dé’nú
ọ̀rẹ́ ló ṣe’ni l’ọ́ṣẹ́ tó ku s’ára bí iṣu
Ìrètí nínú ènìyàn, irọ́ funfun gbáláhú!
ọ̀rẹ́ kan tí mo ní
Elédùmarè, Alágbára, ìbà Rẹ o Baba, Atóbijù!

Ìbà! ìbà!!

ENGLISH TRANSLATION Continue reading →

Originally posted 2015-10-02 19:50:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The Yoruba Blog

Ẹ jẹ ki a gbé èdè àti àṣà Yorùbá Lárugẹ: keeping the Yoruba language alive…

Tag Archives: yoruba

Ọ̀tún wẹ Òsì, Òsì wẹ Ọ̀tún, Lọwọ́ fi Nmọ: Right Washing The Left & The Left Washing The Right Makes For Clean Hands

IMULO ÒWE YORUBA: APPLYING YORUBA PROVERBS

Bί a bá ránni ni iṣẹ ẹrú: One sent on a slavish errand (on man’s inhumanity to man)

Àjùmòbí kò kan tãnu… Same parentage does not compel compassion…

LADÉJOMORE – How Babies Lost Their Ability to Speak

Iwé-àkọ-ránṣẹ́ ni èdè Yorùbá – Letter writing in Yoruba Language

Bi ará ilé ẹni ba njẹ kòkòrò búburú ti a ò sọ fun, hẹ̀rẹ̀-huru rẹ kò ní jẹ ki a sùn – If you fail to warn your neighbor of danger, his cries at night might prevent you from sleeping

“Orúkọ idile Yorùbá ti ó ńparẹ́” – “Yoruba family names that are disappearing”

Ẹ bá wa gbé ọ̀rọ̀ yi yẹ̀wò. Àwọn Ilé Ìdájọ́ Àgbà ni ìlú Amerika ṣe ìdájọ wípé “ìgbéyàwó ko di dandan kó jẹ́ laarin ọkùnrin àti obinrin” : US Supreme Court Decides Marriage Does not Have to be Man & Woman

Ìbà Àkọ́dá – Reverence to the First Being

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